IAG boss attacks government over Chinese tourism policy

23rd Sep 2013 14:10

International Consolidated Airlines Group (IAG) boss Willie Walsh has slammed the UK government over its "unwelcoming" policy on Chinese tourism. The Chief Executive of the parent company of British Airways said the UK's current policy, which requires China to pay for a visa to visit the nation, remains a major problem, according to the London Evening Standard."Not being in the Schengen [shared Europe visa scheme] means higher costs and bureaucracy for Chinese visitors," Walsh said onboard British Airways' inaugural flight to Chengdu, China's fifth-biggest city.He said the UK's slow response to growth in emerging markets was hurting tourism. Traffic at Chengdu airport has increased from 5.5m passengers per year in 2000 to 32m last year. "We would have launched this London-to-Chengdu route a year ago without the visa obstacles," he claimed."There's a perception in China that the UK does not want to see Chinese tourists and businesses. The government talks good talk about doing business with China, but it's one thing saying it and another putting that into action."He claimed Chinese tour operators bypass the UK on European tours due to bureaucracy and the hassle of applying for visas.About 1.2m Chinese tourists visited European countries using the Schengen visa last year, compared to 200,000 in the UK.RD